Air-conditioning device

ABSTRACT

An air-conditioning device can generate ions without interfering with a flow of air from an air outlet, and allows a user to easily change an ion generating electrode. The air-conditioning device includes a wind direction changing plate in an air outlet that blows out air; and an ion generating unit  40  detachably mounted to the wind direction changing plate. A recess is formed in the wind direction changing plate. The recess is larger than the ion generating unit in one direction so that the ion generating unit can be fitted in the recess only in a predetermined position. A guide mechanism is provided that slidably holds the ion generating unit in the recess and slides the ion generating unit toward one end in one direction to secure the ion generating unit to the wind direction changing plate.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an air-conditioning device such as anair blower, an air conditioner, an air cleaner, a humidifier, adehumidifier, a cooler, or a heater, each including a wind directionchanging device in an air outlet that blows out air.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, value-added air conditioners including an iongenerating device that generates positive and negative ions by dischargehave come on the market. Positive and negative ions disappear whencolliding with an obstacle while being sent by a flow of air.

Thus, an ion generating device is desirably mounted on a downstream sideof a louver provided in an air outlet in an air conditioner, and an iongenerating device provided slightly above the air outlet or an iongenerating device including an ion generating electrode that generatesions on a louver surface as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. Inparticular, in Patent Document 1, a louver is located at a center of anair outlet, and thus the ions generated on the louver surface can besmoothly introduced into a flow of air, thereby increasing supplyefficiency of positive and negative ions.

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-347264

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

Since an ion generating electrode applies a voltage to generate ions, asmall amount of ions may be generated depending on use conditions (suchas magnitude of the applied voltage or operating time). However, inPatent Document 1, the ion generating electrode and the louver areintegrally formed, and it is difficult to actually replace an iongenerating electrode.

In view of the above, the present invention has an object to provide anair-conditioning device that can generate ions without interfering witha flow of air blown out from an air outlet, and allows a userhim/herself to easily replace an ion generating electrode.

Means for Solving the Problems

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides anair-conditioning device including: a wind direction changing plateprovided in an air outlet that blows out air; and an ion generating unitdetachably mounted to the wind direction changing plate, wherein arecess is formed in the wind direction changing plate, and the iongenerating unit is mounted so as to be fitted in the recess.

According to the above configuration, an ion generating electrodetogether with other components is housed in a casing and unitized, andthe unit is mounted so as to be fitted in the recess formed in the winddirection changing plate. Thus, the air-conditioning device is easy tohandle, and a user him/herself can replace the ion generating electrode.

Also, the ion generating unit is fitted in the recess, and thus the iongenerating unit hardly interferes with a flow of air blown out from theair outlet. In this case, the wind direction changing plate is formed tobe thick to form the recess, and the wind direction changing plate isformed to have a streamlined sectional shape to allow air to be smoothlyfed to a distance without disturbing the flow of air blown out from theair outlet.

In the invention, the recess is formed to be larger than the iongenerating unit in one direction so that the ion generating unit can befitted in the recess only in a predetermined position away from one ofopposite ends of the recess in one direction, a guide mechanism isprovided that slidably holds the ion generating unit fitted in therecess, and the guide mechanism slides the ion generating unit fitted inthe recess toward one end in one direction to secure the ion generatingunit to the wind direction changing plate.

Specifically, the ion generating unit may be detached from the winddirection changing plate if being merely fitted in the recess. However,as in the above configuration, the ion generating unit fitted in therecess is slid perpendicularly to a fitting direction to prevent the iongenerating unit from being detached.

The ion generating unit is preferably slid in parallel with a pivotdirection of the wind direction changing plate. This prevents aninfluence of a pivot operation of the wind direction changing plate suchas displacement of a sliding position of the ion generating unit.

Further, the ion generating unit fitted in the recess is slid toward oneend in one direction, and a movement regulating member is inserted in aspace created between an inner surface on the other end of the recess inone direction and the ion generating unit to regulate (lock) sliding ofthe ion generating unit, thereby reliably preventing the ion generatingunit from being detached from the wind direction changing plate.

A method of inserting the movement regulating member in the recess spaceis not limited, and for example, the movement regulating member may beslidably provided so as to be advanced into and retracted from thespace. The movement regulating member also may be provided so as to bepivotably switched between an insertion position for regulating movementof the ion generating unit and a release position for releasingregulation of the movement of the ion generating unit.

As such, the operation of the movement regulating member is the pivotoperation different from the sliding operation of the ion generatingunit, and thus an operator can easily visually recognize that themovement regulating member is in the release position. Thus, themovement of the ion generating unit can be reliably regulated whileattention to switch the movement regulating member to the insertionposition is drawn.

When the ion generating unit has not moved to a predetermined position,the movement regulating member hits the ion generating unit and cannotbe placed in the insertion position. Thus, the movement regulatingmember also has a function of ensuring that the ion generating unit hasmoved to the predetermined position, by its being placed in theinsertion position. In particular, as described later, connection of aconnector can be reliably ensured in a case where the ion generatingunit is moved to the predetermined position to electrically connect theconnector.

The guide mechanism includes a protrusion formed on either opposite sidesurfaces of the ion generating unit in one direction or opposite innersurfaces of the recess in one direction, and a guide section that isformed on the other and slidably engages the protrusion, and the guidesection includes a lateral guiding path provided in the one direction,and a vertical guiding path having one end connected to a midpoint ofthe lateral guiding path perpendicularly to the lateral guiding path,and the other end opening in a peripheral edge of the recess. In thiscase, the protrusion can be introduced through the vertical guiding pathinto the lateral guiding path. Specifically, the vertical guiding pathis a guiding path for the protrusion when the ion generating unit isfitted in the recess, and the lateral guiding path is a guiding path forthe protrusion when the ion generating unit is slid.

In the above configuration, when the ion generating unit is moved fromone end toward the other end of the recess in one direction to abutagainst the other end with the protrusion being introduced into thelateral guiding path, the protrusion preferably passes over the verticalguiding path, and stops in the lateral guiding path on the side oppositeto the side before movement when seen from the vertical guiding path.

Specifically, if the ion generating unit is merely fitted in the recessand secured, the vertical guiding path and the lateral guiding path maybe connected into an L shape. However, with such a configuration, whenthe ion generating unit is detached from the recess and the iongenerating unit is slid toward the other end of the recess to abutagainst the other end, the protrusion may slide in the vertical guidingpath and the ion generating unit may be suddenly detached.

In contrast to this, in the present invention, the vertical guiding pathis connected to the midpoint of the lateral guiding path, and thus whenthe protrusion abuts against the end of the lateral guiding path, theprotrusion has passed over the vertical guiding path. Thus, theprotrusion is kept held in the lateral guiding path and is not detachedfrom the recess. This does not cause a situation in which the iongenerating unit is suddenly detached and an operator panics.

In this case, to detach the ion generating unit from the recess, the iongenerating unit moved in the lateral guiding path to abut against theother end in one direction is slightly returned toward one end, theprotrusion is aligned with a connecting position of the vertical guidingpath, and the protrusion is drawn out therefrom through the verticalguiding path. As such, in detaching the ion generating unit from therecess, operation can be safely performed even with careless handling.The detaching operation needs to be consciously performed, and thus theoperator's attention can be drawn.

To generate ions from the ion generating unit, power needs to besupplied to the ion generating unit. Thus, the present invention adoptsa configuration in which a pair of connectors that electrically connectthe wind direction changing plate and the ion generating unit are formedon one end surface of the ion generating unit in one direction and aninner surface on one end of the recess in one direction, the connectorincludes a male connector and a female connector, and when the iongenerating unit is slid toward one end of the recess in one direction,the male connector engages the female connector.

According to the above configuration, the connectors can be connected atthe same time as the ion generating unit is slid in the recess to mountthe ion generating unit to the wind direction changing plate. Themovement regulating member described above is placed in the insertionposition, thereby allowing the connectors to be secured in a connectedstate, and increasing safety.

In view of safety, for the connectors, it is preferable that the maleconnector is formed on one end surface of the ion generating unit in onedirection, and the female connector is formed on the inner surface onone end of the recess in one direction. In this case, an electrodeterminal is formed on a bottom surface rather than a top surface of themale connector, thereby avoiding a risk that a finger touches theelectrode terminal and receives an electric shock in attaching ordetaching the ion generating unit to and from the wind directionchanging plate.

Further, if a configuration is adopted in which with the ion generatingunit being fitted in the recess, a protective cover that prevents afinger from entering the male connector is formed on the top surface ofthe male connector, the risk of an electric shock can be more reliablyavoided.

When the ion generating unit is fitted in the recess by the guidemechanism, it is sometimes difficult to find which position in therecess the ion generating unit should be aligned with. Thus, in thepresent invention, positioning indications are provided on both the iongenerating unit and the recess so as to face each other when the iongenerating unit is placed in a position to be fitted in the recess. Thepositioning indication may be, for example, a colored mark, or a solidindication such as irregularities.

The ion generating unit includes a casing, and an ion generating elementhoused in the casing, the casing includes a lower casing housed in therecess with the ion generating unit being mounted to the wind directionchanging plate, and an upper casing protruding from a surface of thewind direction changing plate and having a space therein, the uppercasing has openings on upstream and downstream sides in accordance witha direction of wind flowing along the surface of the wind directionchanging plate, and the ion generating element generates ions in thespace in the upper casing.

According to the above configuration, the ions are generated in thespace in the upper casing, and also the generated ions can be introducedinto the wind passing between the two openings and smoothly released toan outside. Specifically, the space in the upper casing has both afunction as a space for generating ions and a function as a ventilationpath.

The ion generating unit may generate, for example, either positive ionsrepresented by H⁺(H₂O)_(m) (m is an arbitrary natural number) ornegative ions represented by O₂ ⁻(H₂O)_(n) (n is an arbitrary naturalnumber). One ion generating unit may alternately generate positive andnegative ions from the same ion generating section, but ion generatingunits preferably separately generate positive and negative ions.

When a positive ion generating section and a negative ion generatingsection are separately formed as ion generating units, the iongenerating units are preferably placed with a space therebetween inparallel with the direction of wind flowing along the wind directionchanging plate. This can prevent positive and negative ions generatedfrom the ion generating units from contacting and reacting with eachother and disappearing. The ion generating unit may generate negativeions.

The wind direction changing plate described above may be, specifically,a wind guide panel provided on a front side of the air outlet as a partof a cabinet. In the air conditioner including the wind guide panel, thewind direction changing plate may be an auxiliary louver that changes avertical angle according to an position of the wind guide panel, andchanges a vertical wind direction while straightening the wind blown outfrom the air outlet, and the ion generating unit may be provided on theauxiliary louver.

The wind direction changing plate in the present invention may be atleast one of a group of a plurality of louvers provided in an air outletof a conventional air conditioner, and the ion generating unit may beprovided on the louver.

The air-conditioning device according to the present invention mayinclude, specifically, an air blower, an air conditioner, a humidifier,a dehumidifier, an air cleaner, a cooler, a heater, or the like.

Effects of the Invention

As described above, according to the present invention, the recess isformed in the wind direction changing plate, and the ion generating unitis mounted so as to be fitted in the recess. This allows ions to begenerated without interfering with a flow of air blown out from the airoutlet, and allows a user him/herself to easily replace the iongenerating electrode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an indoor unit of an air conditioneraccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the indoor unit when a windguide panel is closed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the indoor unit when the wind guidepanel is opened downward;

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the indoor unit when the windguide panel is opened upward;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an auxiliary louver;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing a state where an iongenerating unit is detached from the auxiliary louver;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view showing a state where the iongenerating unit is fitted in the auxiliary louver;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view showing a state where the iongenerating unit fitted in the auxiliary louver is slid and secured;

FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing a connectorportion in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing a connectorportion in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view showing a state where a movementregulating member is placed in a regulating position;

FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view showing a state where the iongenerating unit is moved to abut in a detaching direction;

FIG. 13 shows a function block of the ion generating device;

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of an ion generating element;

FIG. 15 is a schematic plan view showing the ion generating unit with anupper casing being removed; and

FIG. 16 is a schematic plan view showing an ion generating unit of adifferent aspect from that in FIG. 15.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS

-   1 heat exchanger-   2 indoor fan-   3 cabinet-   4 air inlet-   5 air outlet-   6 air passage-   7 filter-   8 cleaning device-   9 dust removing section-   10 filter moving path-   20 wind guide panel-   21 front panel-   22 lower pivot-   23 upper pivot-   24 vertical louver-   30 auxiliary louver-   31 rotating shaft-   32 recess-   33 positioning indication-   34 protrusion-   35 guide section-   36 vertical guiding path-   37 lateral guiding path-   38 movement regulating member-   40 ion generating unit-   41 ion generating element-   42 casing-   47 male connector-   48 female connector-   49 protective cover-   51 induction electrode-   52 discharge electrode-   53 substrate-   55 positive ion generating section-   56 negative ion generating section-   57 ventilation path

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Now, an embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a case will be describedwhere an indoor unit of a separate air conditioner mainly having coolingand heating functions is used as an air-conditioning device. FIG. 1 isan appearance perspective view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner,and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the indoor unit in FIG. 1.

The indoor unit includes a heat exchanger 1 and an indoor fan 2, whichare housed in a cabinet 3. The cabinet 3 has a curved surface from afront surface to a bottom surface. An air inlet 4 is formed in an uppersurface of the cabinet 3, and an air outlet 5 is formed in the curvedsurface.

In the cabinet 3, an air passage 6 extending from the air inlet 4 to theair outlet 5 is formed, and the heat exchanger 1 and the indoor fan 2are provided in the air passage 6. A filter 7 is provided between theair inlet 4 and the heat exchanger 1 to remove dust from indoor airsucked from the air inlet 4. A cleaning device 8 that cleans the filter7 is provided.

The cleaning device 8 moves the filter 7 in the cabinet 3 to passthrough a dust removing section 9, and remove dust adhering to thefilter 7 in the dust removing section 9. On the front side in thecabinet 3, a filter moving path 10 curved into a U shape in side view isformed, and a moving section including a motor and gears reciprocatesthe filter 7 along the filter moving path 10. In the dust removingsection 9, a rotating brush scrapes dust off the passing filter 7, and asuction fan blows air substantially in parallel with the filter 7 (in alateral direction) to suck and discharge the scraped dust.

A wind guide panel 20 that opens/closes the air outlet 5 is provided onthe curved surface of the cabinet 3. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the windguide panel 20 can be opened upward and downward and is removable fromthe cabinet 3. Such a configuration is known, and can be achieved byadopting a mechanism disclosed in, for example, Japanese PatentLaid-Open No. 2009-63258.

The wind guide panel 20 is formed of one curved panel, and has a widthequal to that of the cabinet 3 and larger than that of the air outlet 5.On the front surface of the cabinet 3, a front panel 21 is formed from amiddle in the front surface toward the bottom surface in a one levellower position. Thus, a recessed portion is formed in an entire widthdirection, and the wind guide panel 20 is fitted in the recessedportion. An opening is formed in the front panel 21 that forms therecessed portion, and the opening is the air outlet 5. Thus, the windguide panel 20 is placed forward of the air outlet 5, and covers the airoutlet 5 and the front panel 21 around the air outlet 5. At this time,the wind guide panel 20 is placed in a closed position shown in FIG. 2.

The wind guide panel 20 has an outer surface that forms a smooth curvedsurface extending from the front surface to the bottom surface of thecabinet 3. Specifically, the wind guide panel 20 is a member thatconstitutes a part of the front surface of the cabinet 3. In otherwords, a part of a panel of the cabinet 3 is used as the wind guidepanel 20. Thus, the wind guide panel 20 is a long panel having a longerentire length than a louver used in a conventional air conditioner.

The wind guide panel 20 is pivoted in different directions around upperand lower pivots and is opened upward or downward. An upper pivot 23 anda lower pivot 22 are formed in parallel with a lateral direction of thecabinet 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the wind guide panel 20 is openeddownward around the lower pivot 22 in a cooling operation. In thisdownwardly opened position, the wind guide panel 20 is connected to alower wall of the air outlet 5, and the wind guide panel 20 and an upperwall of the air outlet 5 constitute a long nozzle. The wind guide panel20 guides cool air obliquely upward, and the cool air blows out along aceiling.

As shown in FIG. 4, in a heating operation, the wind guide panel 20 isopened upward around the upper pivot 23. In this upwardly openedposition, the wind guide panel 20 closes the front side of the airoutlet 5, holds warm air blown out forward and guides the warm airtoward a floor surface. Also in an initial stage of the coolingoperation, the wind guide panel 20 is placed in the upwardly openedposition, and cool air is blown out toward the floor surface for rapidcooling. As shown in FIG. 2, the wind guide panel 20 is placed in aclosed position when the operation is stopped, covers the air outlet 5,and is integrated with the cabinet 3.

In this embodiment, a vertical louver 24 and also an auxiliary louver 30are provided in the air outlet 5. The vertical louver 24 changes itslateral angle to change a lateral direction of wind. The auxiliarylouver 30 is provided at an outlet portion of the air outlet 5 on afront side of the vertical louver 24, changes its vertical angleaccording to the position of the wind guide panel 20 to straighten thewind and change a vertical direction of wind W blown out from the airoutlet 5. In this embodiment, the auxiliary louver 30 is a winddirection changing plate in the present invention, and an ion generatingunit 40 is detachably mounted to the auxiliary louver 30. The auxiliarylouver 30 will be now described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 5, the auxiliary louver 30 is formed to have a longplate shape in a lateral direction A and tapered front and rear ends.Specifically, the auxiliary louver 30 has a streamlined sectional shapein a fore/aft direction B. On a rear end side (base end side) of theauxiliary louver 30, a rotating shaft 31 having an axial direction inthe lateral direction is secured to shaft connecting sections formed atleft and right ends. The rotating shaft 31 is placed on an upper wall 5a of upper and lower walls 5 a and 5 b that form an air passage 6leading to the air outlet 5, passes through left and right side walls ofthe air outlet 5, and is rotatably bearing mounted. An unshown louvermotor is connected to an end of the rotating shaft 31, and the rotatingshaft 31 is rotatable by the louver motor.

In a lower surface of the auxiliary louver 30, three recesses 32 areformed at intervals in the lateral direction, and an ion generating unit40 is detachably fitted in each recess 32. The ion generating unit 40fitted in the recess 32 is held by the guide mechanism slidably betweenone and the other ends of the recess 32 in one direction. A structure ofthe auxiliary louver 30 including the ion generating unit 40 will be nowdescribed in detail. In FIGS. 5 to 12, a lower surface of the auxiliarylouver is shown upward. In this embodiment, the plurality of recesses 32are formed in the auxiliary louver 30, but one recess 32 may be formed.

As shown in FIG. 6, the recess 32 has a longer length in the lateraldirection A than the ion generating unit 40, and substantially the samelength in the fore/aft direction B as the ion generating unit 40. Thus,when the ion generating unit is fitted in the recess 32, only a slightgap is created therebetween in the fore/aft direction B but aconsiderable space is created therebetween in the lateral direction A.

The ion generating unit 40 fitted in the recess 32 is slidable in thelateral direction A using the space created in the lateral direction A.Specifically, in this embodiment, the lateral direction A in the FIGS. 5to 12 is a sliding direction (one direction) of the ion generating unit40, and of opposite ends of the recess in the lateral direction, a leftend is one end in one direction, and a right end is the other end in onedirection.

The ion generating unit 40 can be fitted and secured in the recess 32 bythe guide mechanism. The guide mechanism includes a pair of protrusions34 and 34 provided on opposite side surfaces formed in the lateraldirection (sliding direction) A in the ion generating unit 40, and guidesections 35 that are formed in opposite inner surfaces of the recess 32in the lateral direction A, and slidably engage the protrusions 34.

The guide section 35 includes a vertical guiding path 36 extending in arecess depth direction from a peripheral edge of the recess, and alateral guiding path 37 connected perpendicularly (in the lateraldirection A) to the vertical guiding path 36 on a back side of thevertical guiding path 36. The vertical guiding path 36 and the lateralguiding path 37 are formed to be recessed in the inner surface of therecess 32. More specifically, an upper end of the vertical guiding path36 is exposed to the peripheral edge of the recess 32, and a recessedopening is formed therein. The protrusion 34 can be introduced into thevertical guiding path 36 through the opening.

The lateral guiding path 37 includes a first lateral guiding path 37 aextending from the vertical guiding path 36 to left in the lateraldirection A, and a second lateral guiding path 37 b extending from thevertical guiding path 36 to right in the lateral direction A, which isopposite to the direction of the first lateral guiding path 37 a.Specifically, the vertical guiding path 36 is formed to be connected toa midpoint of the lateral guiding path 37 formed in the lateraldirection A.

The vertical guiding path 36 is formed so that an opening position atthe upper end of the vertical guiding path 36 matches a position of theprotrusion 34 when the ion generating unit 40 is in a position away froma left inner surface of the recess 32 (a position close to a right innersurface of the recess 32 in this embodiment). The ion generating unit 40is pressed into the recess 32 in that position, and thus the protrusion34 is introduced through the vertical guiding path 36 into the lateralguiding path 37.

The forming position of the vertical guiding path 36 is not limited toas long as the ion generating unit 40 is in a position away from theleft inner surface of the recess 32. Thus, for example, when the iongenerating unit 40 is positioned at the center of the recess 32 in thelateral direction, the position of the protrusion 34 can match theposition of the opening of the vertical guiding path 36. In order tominimize the length of the recess 32 in the lateral direction A, theposition of the protrusion 34 preferably matches the position of theopening of the vertical guiding path 36 when the ion generating unit 40is in a position close to the right inner surface of the recess 32.

A pair of connectors 47 and 48 for supplying power to the ion generatingunit are provided on a left end surface of the ion generating unit 40and the left inner surface of the recess 32. More specifically, a maleconnector 47 for inputting power is provided on a left end surface ofthe ion generating unit 40, and a female connector 48 for supplyingpower is provided on the left inner surface of the recess 32. The femaleconnector 48 is connected to a power supply mounted in the cabinet 3 viaa lead wire. The lead wire is routed from the cabinet 3 through therotating shaft 31 into the auxiliary louver 30. In this embodiment, thefirst lateral guiding path 37 a extends toward the female connector 48.

When the ion generating unit 40 is secured to the recess 32 in the guidemechanism having the above configuration, first as shown in FIG. 7, theprotrusion 34 is placed on the position of the vertical guiding path 36of the guide section 35 to insert the ion generating unit 40 into therecess 32. The ion generating unit 40 and the peripheral edge of therecess 32 have triangular positioning indications 33 and 33 so as toface each other when the position of the protrusion 34 matches theposition of the vertical guiding path 36.

The positioning indications 33 and 33 are formed protrudedly, and can beformed at the same time as a casing of the ion generating unit 40 or theauxiliary louver 30 is formed.

When the ion generating unit 40 is fitted in the recess 32, theprotrusion 34 is guided through the vertical guiding path 36 to thelateral guiding path 37. When the ion generating unit 40 is slid fromthis state to the left in the lateral direction A, the protrusion 34slides in the first lateral guiding path 37 a. As such, verticalmovement of the protrusion 34 is regulated by the first lateral guidingpath 37 a, and thus the ion generating unit 40 is secured to theauxiliary louver 30 and prevented from being detached. When the iongenerating unit 40 reaches the left end of the recess 32, the maleconnector 47 engages the female connector 48.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the ion generating unit 40 is moved to the leftend of the recess 32, a space is created between a right end surface ofthe ion generating unit 40 and a right inner surface of the recess 32 atthe right end of the recess 32. In the present invention, this space isfilled with a movement regulating member 38 to regulate movement of theion generating unit 40.

Specifically, the movement regulating member 38 is provided to face therecess 32 at the right end of the recess 32. The movement regulatingmember 38 is rotatable around a rotating shaft 38 a having an axialdirection parallel to the lateral direction A in a position close to arear inner surface of the recess 32. The movement regulating member 38is provided so as to be pivotably switched between an insertion positionwhere the movement of the ion generating unit 40 is regulated and arelease position where regulation of the movement of the ion generatingunit is released.

In FIG. 8, the movement regulating member 38 is in the release position.As shown in FIG. 8, when the movement regulating member 38 is in therelease position, the movement regulating member 38 is raised from theauxiliary louver 30, and thus the movement regulating member 38 being inthe release position can be easily visually recognized, therebypreventing forgetting to switch to the regulation position.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are partially enlarged sectional views showing theconnectors 47 and 48 in FIGS. 7 and 8. As shown, an electrode terminal47 a of the male connector 47 is formed on a bottom surface rather thana top surface of the connector, thereby avoiding a risk that a fingertouches the electrode terminal 47 a and receives an electric shock. Anelectrode terminal 48 a of the female connector 48 is formed on thebottom surface in the connector.

On the top surface side (upper side) of the male connector 47, aprotective cover 49 is formed that prevents a finger from entering themale connector 47, and the risk of an electric shock can be morereliably avoided. The protective cover 49 is formed so that when the iongenerating unit 40 is slid to the left in the recess 32 and approaches aposition where the male connector 47 engages the female connector 48,the protective cover 49 reaches the surface of the auxiliary louverhousing the female connector 48. Thus, when the male connector 47 isenergized, a gap between the ion generating unit 40 and the left innersurface of the recess 32 is eliminated to prevent a finger from enteringthe male connector 47.

After the ion generating unit 40 is slid to the left end of the recess32 and the connectors 47 and 48 engage each other, as shown in FIG. 11,the movement regulating member 38 is pivoted to the regulation positionto regulate sliding of the ion generating unit 40. This can ensureconnection of the connectors 47 and 48.

An elastic hook 38 b is formed at an end of the movement regulatingmember 38, and a receiving section 39 of the elastic hook 38 b is formedin a position facing the movement regulating member 38 on a front innersurface of the recess 32. When the movement regulating member 38 isplaced in the regulation position, the elastic hook 38 b engages thereceiving section 39, and the movement regulating member 38 maintainsthe regulation position.

When the ion generating unit 40 is detached from the auxiliary louver30, the elastic hook 38 b is disengaged from the receiving section 39 tobring the movement regulating member 38 into the release position, andthen the ion generating unit 40 is slid to the right side in the lateraldirection A to the position of the vertical guiding path 36 (the samestate in FIG. 7). The ion generating unit 40 is raised toward thesurface in that position, and thus the protrusion 34 is disengaged fromthe vertical guiding path 37, and the ion generating unit 40 can bedetached from the auxiliary louver 30.

At this time, if an inexperienced operator moves the ion generating unit40 so that the protrusion 34 abuts against the right end of the lateralguiding path 37, as shown in FIG. 12, the protrusion 34 passes over thevertical guiding path 36 and stops in the second lateral guiding path 37b on the side opposite to the first lateral guiding path 37 a. Thisprevents the ion generating unit 40 from being unexpectedly detachedfrom the recess 32.

In this case, to detach the ion generating unit from the recess, the iongenerating unit 40 may be slightly moved back to the left, theprotrusion 34 may be aligned with a connecting position of the verticalguiding path 36, and the protrusion 34 may be drawn out therefromthrough the vertical guiding path. The above configuration isparticularly useful when the air-conditioning device is placed in anindoor upper position, and an operator looks up and detaches the iongenerating unit.

As such, the vertical guiding path 36 is connected to the midpoint ofthe lateral guiding path 37, and thus when the protrusion 34 abutsagainst the end of the lateral guiding path 37, the protrusion 34 haspassed over the vertical guiding path 36. Thus, the protrusion 34 isheld in the lateral guiding path 37 and not detached from the recess 32.

Next, the configuration of the ion generating unit 40 will be describedin detail. As shown in FIG. 13, the ion generating unit 40 includes anion generating element 41, a power supply input connector 47, a drivecircuit 43, a high voltage generating circuit 44, a positive highvoltage generating circuit 45, and a negative high voltage generatingcircuit 46, which are housed in a casing 42.

As shown in FIG. 14, the ion generating element 41 includes an inductionelectrode 51, discharge electrodes 52, and a substrate 53. The dischargeelectrode 52 has a needle-like tip. The substrate 53 has through holes53 a through which the discharge electrodes 52 are inserted, and throughholes 53 b through which insertion portions 51 d 2 of a substrateinsertion section 51 d are inserted.

The needle-like discharge electrodes 52 are inserted or press-fittedinto the through holes 53 a and passed through and supported by thesubstrate 53. Thus, one needle-like end of the discharge electrode 52protrudes on a front surface of the substrate 53, and to the other endprotruding on a back surface of the substrate 53, a lead wire or awiring pattern can be electrically connected by solder 54.

The insertion portions 51 d 2 of the induction electrode 51 are insertedinto the through holes 53 b and passed through and supported by thesubstrate 53. To a tip of the insertion portion 51 d 2 protruding on aback surface of the substrate 53, a lead wire or a wiring pattern can beelectrically connected by solder 54.

With the induction electrode 51 being supported by the substrate 53, astep between a support portion 51 d 1 and the insertion portion 51 d 2abuts against the front surface of the substrate 53. Thus, a top section51 a of the induction electrode 51 is supported at a predetermineddistance from the substrate 53. A tip of a substrate support section 51e of the induction electrode 51 secondarily abuts against the frontsurface of the substrate 53. Specifically, the induction electrode 51can be positioned in a thickness direction of the substrate 53 using thesubstrate insertion section 51 d and the substrate support section 51 e.

With the induction electrode 51 being supported by the substrate 53, thedischarge electrode 52 is placed so that a needle-like tip thereof ispositioned at the center of the circular through hole 51 h, andpositioned within a range of a thickness of a peripheral edge of thethrough hole 51 b (that is, a bending length of a bent section 51 c).

In order to release both positive and negative ions, a needle-like tipposition of the discharge electrode 52 that generates positive ions anda needle-like tip position of the discharge electrode 52 that generatesnegative ions are placed with a predetermined distance therebetween, thetips are aligned with the center of the through holes 51 b in theinduction electrode 51, and placed within the thickness range of thethrough holes 51 b in the induction electrode 51 so that the inductionelectrode 51 and the needle-like tips of the discharge electrodes 52face each other with an air space therebetween.

In the ion generating element 41, the plate-like induction electrode 51and the needle-like discharge electrodes 52 are placed with thepredetermined distance therebetween as described above, and a highvoltage is applied to between the induction electrode 51 and thedischarge electrodes 52. Then, corona discharge occurs at the tips ofthe needle-like discharge electrodes 52. The corona discharge generatesat least either positive ions or negative ions, and the ions arereleased from the through hole 51 b provided in the induction electrode51 to an outside of the ion generating element 41. Further, air is blownto allow the ions to be more effectively released.

The positive ion is a cluster ion which is a hydrogen ion(H⁺) with aplurality of water molecules around the hydrogen ion, and represented asH⁺(H₂O)_(m) (m is an arbitrary natural number). The negative ion is acluster ion which is a oxygen ion(O₂ ⁻) with a plurality of watermolecules around the oxygen ion, and represented as O₂ ⁻(H₂O)_(n) (n isan arbitrary natural number).

Both the positive and negative ions are released, and thus H⁺(H₂O)_(m)(m is an arbitrary natural number) as positive ions in the air and O₂⁻(H₂O)_(n) (n is an arbitrary natural number) as negative ionssubstantially of the same amount are generated. Thus, the positive andnegative ions surround mold or viruses suspended in the air, and canremove the suspended mold or the like by action of a hydroxide radical(•OH) of activated species generated at that time.

In the ion generating device, positive corona discharge is caused at thetip of one discharge electrode 52 to generate positive ions, andnegative corona discharge is caused at the tip of the other dischargeelectrode 52 to generate negative ions. Any waveform may be hereinapplied, and a waveform of a high voltage such as a DC, an AC waveformbiased to positive or negative, or a pulse waveform biased to positiveor negative may be applied. A voltage value is selected within a voltagerange sufficient for causing discharge and generating predetermined ionspecies.

The ion generating device may generate other ion species, not limited tothe ion species in this embodiment, and may generate, for example,negative ions.

To the power supply input connector 47, DC power or commercial AC poweras input power is supplied through the connector 48. The drive circuit43 to which the input voltage is supplied through the power supply inputconnector 47 drives the high voltage generating circuit 44 to increasethe input voltage to generate high voltage. One end of the high voltagegenerating circuit 44 is electrically connected to the inductionelectrode 51. The high voltage generating circuit 44 applies a highvoltage of positive polarity to the induction electrode 51 through thepositive high voltage generating circuit 45 to the needle-like dischargeelectrode 52 that generates positive ions, and applies a high voltage ofnegative polarity to the induction electrode 51 through the negativehigh voltage generating circuit 46 to the needle-like dischargeelectrode 52 that generates negative ions.

In the casing 42, the drive circuit 43, the high voltage generatingcircuit 44, the positive high voltage generating circuit 45, and thenegative high voltage generating circuit 46 are provided at the centerthereof, and the ion generating elements 41 are provided on left andright sides thereof. Specifically, the drive circuit 43, the highvoltage generating circuit 44, the positive high voltage generatingcircuit 45, and the negative high voltage generating circuit 46 areshared, and two needle-like electrodes are connected to each of thepositive high voltage generating circuit 45 and the negative highvoltage generating circuit 46.

As shown in FIG. 8, with the ion generating unit 40 being mounted to theauxiliary louver 30, the casing 42 of the ion generating unit 40includes a lower casing 42 a housed in the recess 32, and an uppercasing 42 b protruding from the surface of the auxiliary louver 30 andhaving a space therein with reference to an opening position of therecess 32 (a position shown by a dash-double-dot line in the drawing).

The upper casing 42 b has openings 42 c and 42 c formed on upstream anddownstream sides of wind W flowing along the surface of the auxiliarylouver 30, and a space in the upper casing 42 b is a ventilation path 57through which the wind W passes. The ion generating element 41 isprovided to face the ventilation path 57 in the lower casing 42 a.

In the above configuration, ions generated from the ion generatingelement 41 are diffused into the air in the ventilation path 57, andintroduced into the wind W and smoothly released to the outside when thewind W blown out from the air outlet 5 passes through the ventilationpath 57.

In the opening 42 c, a guard member 58 is provided that guards a fingerfrom entering the ventilation path 57. The guard member 58 in thisembodiment is elongated vertical bars. The guard member 58 has taperedfront and rear ends, and has a shape with low air resistance so as tominimize disturbance of a flow of wind flowing in the ventilation path57.

In this embodiment, a gap between windward vertical bars 58 a is narrow,and a gap between leeward vertical bars 58 b is wide. This is to preventa finger from touching the discharge electrode 52 for safety because thedischarge electrode 52 of the ion generating element 41 is closer to thewindward vertical bars 58 a than the leeward vertical bars 58 b.Further, the windward vertical bars 58 a has a function of reducingstrength of the wind W introduced into the ventilation path 57. Thisallows ions generated from the ion generating element 41 to besufficiently diffused into the air in the ventilation path 57.

Meanwhile, the leeward vertical bars 58 b has a wide space of thevertical bars 58 b so as not to interfere with generated ions. This canprovide advantages of safety and preventing generated ions from abuttingagainst the vertical bars 58 b and disappearing.

As shown in FIG. 13, the discharge electrode 52 connected to thepositive high voltage generating circuit 45 is a positive ion generatingsection 55 that generates positive ions, and the discharge electrode 52connected to the negative high voltage generating circuit 46 is anegative ion generating section 56 that generates negative ions. FIG. 15is a schematic plan view of the ion generating unit with the uppercasing 42 b being removed. As shown, in this embodiment, the positiveion generating section 55 and the negative ion generating section 56 areformed with a space therebetween in the lateral direction A. This canprevent a reduction in the number of ions being carried in a flow ofair.

As another aspect of arrangement of the discharge electrodes 52, asshown in FIG. 16, the positive ion generating sections 55 and thenegative ion generating sections 56 may be separately provided at leftand right of the casing 42. Specifically, in this aspect, two dischargeelectrodes 52 connected to the positive high voltage generating circuit45 and two discharge electrodes 52 connected to the negative highvoltage generating circuit 46 are collectively placed either at the leftor right. This aspect is particularly useful when the casing may have asufficiently long lateral length. Thus, the left and right iongenerating sections can be separated as much as possible, thereby moreefficiently preventing the positive and negative ions from contactingand disappearing.

In the air conditioner, an unshown outdoor unit is provided outdoor withrespect to an indoor unit. The outdoor unit houses a compressor, a heatexchanger, a four-way valve, an outdoor fan, or the like, and thesecomponents and the heat exchanger 1 in the indoor unit constitute arefrigeration cycle. A control section that controls driving of therefrigeration cycle, the wind guide panel 20, the auxiliary louver, orthe like is provided in the indoor unit.

The control section constituted by a microcomputer controls therefrigeration cycle based on a user's instructions and detection signalsof various sensors such as temperature sensors that detects a roomtemperature or an outside air temperature, and performs cooling andheating operations. At this time, the control section controls anopening/closing mechanism according to the cooling/heating operation toopen/close the wind guide panel 20, and drives the auxiliary louver 30according thereto. The control section controls the cleaning device 8 toclean the filter 7 regularly or according to a user's instructions.

An operation of the auxiliary louver 30 will be described in detail. Asshown in FIG. 2, the auxiliary louver 30 can be housed in a space in theair outlet 5 in an upward position in contact with the upper wall 5 a,and the wind guide panel 20 can be closed.

If the wind guide panel 20 is detached in the closed position of thewind guide panel 20, the upper casing 42 b of the ion generating unit 40is directed downward. Thus, the ion generating unit 40 can be replacedwithout moving the auxiliary louver 30. Depending on models of theair-conditioning device, if the wind guide panel 20 is removed in theclosed position of the wind guide panel 20, the upper casing 42 b of theion generating unit may be directed upward.

In this case, when the ion generating unit is replaced, for example, anion generating unit replacement time button may be provided in a remotecontroller or the like so that when the button is pushed, the auxiliarylouver 30 is operated and the upper casing 42 b of the ion generatingunit is directed downward.

The control section controls driving of the louver motor so that theauxiliary louver 30 is placed in a downward position with an angle withrespect to the flow of the wind W to change a direction of wind in anupwardly opened position where a lower end of the wind guide panel 20 isopened forward around the upper pivot 23. Also, the control sectioncontrols driving of the louver motor so that the auxiliary louver 30 isdirected in parallel with the flow of the wind W in a downwardly openedposition where an upper end of the wind guide panel 20 is openeddownward around the lower pivot 22.

More specifically, in the upwardly opened position of the wind guidepanel 20, the control section controls the position of the auxiliarylouver 30 so that the auxiliary louver 30 closes the front side of theair outlet 5, and holds air blown out forward and guides the airdownward.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which the auxiliary louver 30 is directedwith an angle with respect to the flow of the wind in the upwardlyopened position of the wind guide panel. As shown, when the auxiliarylouver 30 is placed in the downward position with respect to the wind Wblown out forward from the air outlet 5 through the air passage 6, thewind W directly blows against a lower surface of the auxiliary louver30, that is, a surface to which the ion generating unit 40 is mounted.At this time, when the wind W directly blows against the ion generatingelement, most of the ions may be pressed against the surface of theauxiliary louver 30 and disappear.

However, an upper portion of the ion generating element 41 is coveredwith the upper casing 42 b as shown in FIG. 8. Thus, the wind W does notdirectly blow against the ion generating element. Meanwhile, the wind Whaving blown against the auxiliary louver 30 is changed in direction andintroduced into the ventilation path 57, and presses out the ionsgenerated in the ventilation path 57 toward a downstream side along thesurface of the auxiliary louver 30. This allows the positive andnegative ions to be introduced into the wind W and efficiently releasedto a distance.

FIG. 3 shows an example in which the auxiliary louver 30 is directed inparallel with the flow of the wind W in the downwardly opened positionof the wind guide panel. In this example, the wind guide panel 20 ispivoted downward around the lower pivot 22 to a substantially horizontalposition. Specifically, in the downwardly opened position, the windguide panel 20 is connected to the lower wall of the air outlet 5, andthe wind guide panel 20 and the upper wall 5 a of the air outlet 5constitute a long nozzle. Thus, the wind guide panel 20 can guide thewind obliquely upward, and blow out the wind along the ceiling to adistance. At this time, the auxiliary louver 30 is directed in parallelwith the flow of the wind W, and thus the wind W is introduced into theventilation path 57 without changing a direction, and acts to guide theair blown out from the air outlet 5 to a distance together with ions.

In this embodiment, the protrusion on the guide mechanism is formed inthe ion generating unit, and the guide section is formed in the recess,but not limited to this, the protrusion may be formed in the recess, andthe guide section may be formed in the ion generating unit.

In this embodiment, the separate air conditioner is used as an airconditioner for description, but the present invention may be applied toa wind direction changing plate of an air cleaner, or a wind directionchanging plate of a cool air fan that blows out cool air usingvaporization heat.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention can be conveniently used as an air-conditioningdevice (air blower, air conditioner, air cleaner, humidifier,dehumidifier, cooler, heater, or the like) that can blow out ionstogether with air from an air outlet.

1. An air-conditioning device comprising: a wind direction changingplate provided in an air outlet that blows out air; and an iongenerating unit detachably mounted to the wind direction changing plate,wherein a recess is formed in the wind direction changing plate, and theion generating unit is mounted so as to be fitted in the recess.
 2. Theair-conditioning device according to claim 1, wherein the recess isformed to be larger than the ion generating unit in one direction sothat the ion generating unit can be fitted in the recess only in apredetermined position away from one of opposite ends of the recess inone direction, a guide mechanism is provided that slidably holds the iongenerating unit fitted in the recess, and the guide mechanism slides theion generating unit fitted in the recess toward one end in one directionto secure the ion generating unit to the wind direction changing plate.3. The air-conditioning device according to claim 2, wherein the iongenerating unit fitted in the recess is slid toward one end in onedirection, and a movement regulating member is inserted in a spacecreated between an inner surface on the other end of the recess in onedirection and the ion generating unit to regulate sliding of the iongenerating unit.
 4. The air-conditioning device according to claim 3,wherein the movement regulating member is provided so as to be pivotablyswitched between an insertion position for regulating movement of theion generating unit and a release position for releasing regulation ofthe movement of the ion generating unit.
 5. The air-conditioning deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the guide mechanism includes a protrusionformed on either opposite side surfaces of the ion generating unit inone direction or opposite inner surfaces of the recess in one direction,and a guide section that is formed on the other and slidably engages theprotrusion, the guide section includes a lateral guiding path providedin the one direction, and a vertical guiding path having one endconnected to a midpoint of the lateral guiding path perpendicularly tothe lateral guiding path, and the other end opening in a peripheral edgeof the recess, the protrusion can be introduced through the verticalguiding path into the lateral guiding path, and when the ion generatingunit is moved from one end toward the other end of the recess in onedirection to abut against the other end with the protrusion beingintroduced in the lateral guiding path, the protrusion passes over thevertical guiding path, and stops in the lateral guiding path on anopposite side.
 6. The air-conditioning device according to claim 2,wherein a pair of connectors that electrically connect the winddirection changing plate and the ion generating unit are formed on oneend surface of the ion generating unit in one direction and an innersurface on one end of the recess in one direction, the connectorincludes a male connector and a female connector, and when the iongenerating unit is slid toward one end of the recess in one direction,the male connector engages the female connector.
 7. The air-conditioningdevice according to claim 6, wherein the male connector is formed on oneend surface of the ion generating unit in one direction, and anelectrode terminal is formed on a bottom surface of the male connector.8. The air-conditioning device according to claim 7, wherein aprotective cover that prevents a finger from entering the male connectoris formed on a top surface of the male connector.
 9. Theair-conditioning device according to claim 2, wherein positioningindications are provided on both the ion generating unit and the recessso as to face each other when the ion generating unit is placed in aposition to be fitted in the recess.
 10. The air-conditioning deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the ion generating unit includes a casing,and an ion generating element housed in the casing, the casing includesa lower casing housed in the recess with the ion generating unit beingmounted to the wind direction changing plate, and an upper casingprotruding from a surface of the wind direction changing plate andhaving a space therein, the upper casing has openings on upstream anddownstream sides in accordance with a direction of wind flowing alongthe surface of the wind direction changing plate, and the ion generatingelement generates ions in the space in the upper casing.